Bali's Temples, and How to Visit Them Respectfully
Updated: 2 days ago
Tanah Lot sits on a rock in the sea. Uluwatu clings to a cliff above the surf. Ulun Danu Beratan seems to float on a mountain lake. Bali's temples are not one experience, and each is a working place of worship with a dress code, not a backdrop. We set out which temple suits which visit, and how to walk in without getting it wrong.
Cover up, carry cash, and come early or late
Wear a sarong and sash with your shoulders covered; most temples hire sarongs at the gate.
Foreign adults pay Rp75,000 at Tanah Lot, Rp60,000 at Uluwatu and Rp100,000 at Ulun Danu Beratan.
The Uluwatu Kecak dance is a separate Rp150,000 ticket.
Uluwatu is 21 km from the airport by road and Tanah Lot 27 km; Ulun Danu Beratan is 63 km inland.
Inner courtyards are usually for worshippers, and parts can close during ceremonies.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
How a Temple Visit Goes Wrong Without Warning
Treat a Balinese temple as a backdrop and it bites back: you arrive in shorts, at noon, on a day a ceremony has closed half the site. These are living places of worship, not photo stops, and a little homework on dress, timing and where you may walk is all that stands between a respectful visit and an awkward one.
Read more: Taman Ayun Barong Festival 2026
Which Temple Suits Which Visit
For sea, sky and sunset, the coastal temples win. Tanah Lot sits on a rock offshore and is built around the evening light, and Uluwatu rides a cliff over the surf and pairs the clifftop walk with a Kecak dance at sunset. Both fill up at sunset, which is exactly when we think they are worth the crowd.
For calm and scenery, go up. Ulun Danu Beratan sits on a mountain lake with cool air and gardens around it, a gentler visit than the coastal crush. This is the one to choose when you want the photograph and the quiet, not the sunset scrum.
The etiquette does not change wherever you go. Sarong and sash on, shoulders covered, inner courtyards left to worshippers. Check whether a ceremony is scheduled so you do not arrive to a closed gate, and come early or late to dodge both the heat and the thickest of the crowd.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit Bali's Temples?
Entry fees below are for one foreign adult. Distances are by road from Ngurah Rai airport, calculated with OpenStreetMap routing. Australian dollar figures use A$1 to about Rp12,500.
Temple | Setting | Foreign adult entry | From the airport |
Tanah Lot | Rock in the sea, sunset | Rp75,000 (about A$6) | 27 km |
Uluwatu | Clifftop above the surf | Rp60,000 (about A$5) | 21 km |
Ulun Danu Beratan | Mountain lake, cool air | Rp100,000 (about A$8) | 63 km |
Where each fee comes from: Tanah Lot's is listed on its official website, checked on 24 October 2026. Ulun Danu Beratan's rose to Rp100,000 on 1 July 2026, as reported by IDN Times. Uluwatu's is listed on uluwatutemple.id, which also gives the Kecak dance at Rp150,000 per adult. Fees change, so carry some cash above these amounts.
Know This Before You Reach the Gate
Wear or hire a sarong and sash, since almost every temple requires both to enter.
Cover your shoulders too, not just your legs under the sarong.
Check whether a ceremony is on, since parts of a temple close to visitors during worship.
Aim Tanah Lot and Uluwatu for sunset or early morning, when they earn the trip.
Follow the signs and the staff on where you may go, since inner courtyards are usually for worshippers only.
See also: Explore Bali Activities
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to a Bali temple?
A sarong and sash are required at almost every temple, worn with shoulders covered. Many temples hire sarongs at the entrance if you do not have one.
Which is the best temple in Bali?
It depends what you want. Tanah Lot and Uluwatu suit coastal sunset visits, while Ulun Danu Beratan suits a calmer, scenic stop by a mountain lake.
Can tourists enter Bali temples?
Yes, most welcome respectful visitors, though inner courtyards are often reserved for worshippers and parts may close during ceremonies.
When is the best time to visit Bali temples?
Early morning or sunset, which avoid the midday heat and, at coastal temples, show them at their best.
Do Bali temples charge an entry fee?
Yes. Foreign adults pay Rp75,000 at Tanah Lot, Rp60,000 at Uluwatu and Rp100,000 at Ulun Danu Beratan, as listed in October 2026. Parking and sarong hire can be extra, so carry some cash.
Plan a Temple Route That Flows
Temples sit all over the island, so where you base and how you drive decide how many you reach in a day. Settle both, and a temple day flows instead of dissolving into traffic.
Where To Stay?
Temples ring the whole island, so base with real care. Compare hotels and villas across Bali and lock your first night before you plot the route.
Things To Do
Many temples come alive with a guide or a live dance. Browse tours and activities across Bali so the visit is planned before you reach the gate.
Rent A Car
Temples sit far apart, most of them inland. Compare car hire across Bali, check what your licence needs, and sort the driving before you set off.
Sources: DTW Tanah Lot official ticket prices | IDN Times, Ulun Danu Beratan fees from 1 July 2026 | uluwatutemple.id | OpenStreetMap (road distances, calculated 24 October 2026).
Last verified: 24 October 2026
